The August 30, 2021 Champion Weekly Update
Welcome to the Champion Weekly Update, a digital supplement to the monthly Champion Newsletter, intended to keep you up-to-date on news and events at City Hall.

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Sunday
August 29, 2021
No Scheduled Meetings or Events
Monday
August 30, 2021
No Scheduled Meetings or Events
Tuesday
August 31, 2021
Wednesday
September 1, 2021
No Scheduled Meetings or Events
Thursday
September 2, 2021
Friday
September 3, 2021
No Scheduled Meetings or Events
Saturday
September 4, 2021
- Mark You Calendar -
Monday
September 6, 2021
City Hall and facilities will be closed to observe the Labor Day holiday
Republic Services will not be conducting trash pick-up to observe Labor Day.
Thursday
September 23, 2021
Story Time with Councilmember Jeremy Koontz
10:15 AM | Duncanville Library Program Room
Saturday
September 25, 2021
Meet, Connect & Learn
with Councilmember, District 4, Mark D. Cooks
11:00 AM | In-Person and via Zoom
Wednesday
September 29, 2021
Coffee with the Mayor
8:30 AM | In-Person and via Zoom
NOTICE:
Currently, brush and bulk routes in the City of Duncanville are running behind about one week. To get caught up we have secured additional resources for the next 2-3 weeks. The expense for this will be absorbed by Republic Services and will not be passed along to the residents of Duncanville.
 
We appreciate your patience and understanding. 

Republic Service, August 26, 2021
Notice of Meeting to Vote on Tax Rate
Duncanville City Council Meeting Agenda
 
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
6:00 P.M.

This is an open meeting conducted by in-person and video conference.

Due to limited seating in the council chambers, persons or participants may attend by video conference in order to maintain safe social distance as provided in this notice. 

To speak during Citizen Comments, you must register with the City Secretary before 4 pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, email citysecretary@duncanville.com and title the email “Public Comment – TAX RATE – August 31, 2021”. You will need to register with the link below and attend the meeting. During the Citizen Comments period of the agenda, the City Secretary will call your name and allow access to your camera and microphone for you to provide your comments. Feel free to email your comment to the City Secretary for the Mayor to read into the record for any unexpected technological issues that may arise.  


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Read the agenda https://bit.ly/3zu170A
The City of Duncanville Announces a Proposed Tax Rate Decrease for Fiscal Year 2022
The City of Duncanville staff has proposed a tax rate of $0.700000 per $100 of property value for City Council’s consideration. The proposed rate decrease is -2.35% ($0.016852) less per $100 of property value.

Continue reading https://bit.ly/3zztQ40
Notice About 2021 Tax Rates
This notice concerns the 2021 property tax rates for City of Duncanville. This notice provides information about two tax rates used in adopting the current tax year’s tax rate. The no-new-revenue tax rate would Impose the same amount of taxes as last year if you compare properties taxed in both years. In most cases, the voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate a taxing unit can adopt without holding an election. In each case, these rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of taxes by the current taxable value with adjustments as required by state law. The rates are given per $100 of property value.

Read the complete notice https://bit.ly/3sXlr89
Public Hearing on FY21-22 Budget/Tax Rate

1. CALL TO ORDER
 
2. RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS
 
3. RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FY 2021-2022 PROPOSED BUDGET, DELIBERATE, AND CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING
 
The public may appear by telephone/video conference and in-person for the public hearing comment period. Members of the public that appear in person should notify the office of the City Secretary by 4:00 p.m. August 24, 2021 to make adequate safety measures to ensure social distancing. Masks are recommended for in-person appearances. Members of the public may also appear by dial-in as outlined in this notice. To speak during the Public Hearing, you need to REGISTER in advance with the link above. When the Mayor opens the Public Hearing, you will need to use the “raise your hand” option provided by ZOOM. If you are calling in and would like to speak, press *9 on your phone’s dial pad to “raise your hand.” You may also submit your comments in advance in accordance with the guidelines for “Public Comments” to the City Secretary.
 
4. CONSIDER ESTABLISHING THE DATE OF AUGUST 31, 2021 TO CONSIDER A VOTE ON THE BUDGET.
 
5. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND DELIBERATE ON THE FY 2021-2022 PROPOSED TAX RATE
 
The public may appear by telephone/video conference and in-person for the public hearing comment period. Members of the public that appear in person should notify the office of the City Secretary by 4:00 p.m. August 24, 2021 to make adequate safety measures to ensure social distancing. Masks are recommended for in-person appearances. Members of the public may also appear by dial-in as outlined in this notice. To speak during the Public Hearing, you need to REGISTER in advance with the link above. When the Mayor opens the Public Hearing, you will need to use the “raise your hand” option provided by ZOOM. If you are calling in and would like to speak, press *9 on your phone’s dial pad to “raise your hand.” You may also submit your comments in advance in accordance with the guidelines for “Public Comments” to the City Secretary.
 
ADJOURNMENT
Virtual FY 2021-2022 Budget Town Hall with Answers
On Saturday, August 14, 2021, the Duncanville City Council held a Virtual FY 2021-2022 Budget Town Hall. During this Town Hall City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Interim Finance Director Edena Atmore, and Budget Administrator Jennifer Otey presented the Proposed Budget.

Below the video of the Virtual Town Hall, you will find both questions asked during the Town Hall and the answers to each transcribed.
Q: How many professional advisors and/or consultants such Freese & Nichols are projected to work for the City in 2021-2022?

Jennifer Otey, Budget Administrator (answered after the meeting’s conclusion): The City anticipates using 20 consultants/advisory firms city-wide. The City uses consultants and advisors to perform professional services such as CIP design work, annual reports, and services for compliance of mandates, and for services, staff cannot do because of lack of expertise or resources. The use of consultants can vary based on need, and not all are guaranteed to be used during the year.

Q: Are there any trends to highlight how property taxes have increased year-over-year because of demographic changes because there are more residents moving into the city?

Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, City Manager: Property tax trends. As far as our property tax in the North Texas area you will find that values have increased. In fact, if you heard in the beginning, we talked about Senate Bill legislation that was enacted. It actually capped the amount of revenue cities are able to obtain. If you look at this year’s trend you’ll see that our values are increasing – our residents may not be increasing as much in Duncanville, but our values have been increasing throughout the North Texas area.

This year we are seeing about a 10% increase in overall property values in the area. So, that has been a trend that has followed all over the metroplex. So, when you look at your overall values, that’s the number one thing for us.

Q: With regards to the investments, I saw there was a decrease in terms of returns. Is that outsourced to a fixed-income shop or fund management shop that takes care of that for the City?

Edena Atmore, Interim Finance Director: We invest our funds in accordance with the best practices in course for the Public Funds Investment Act. A large part of those investments for the interest rates, because the Fed rate has decreased tremendously in the last year since the pandemic. We’ve seen a decrease in the amount of interest we’re earning off our investments.

We’ve partnered with investment advisors. We have investment advisors called Valley View Consulting and we partner with them in managing that portfolio. So, they may do some solicitations in it and guide us on investments. Then we make the decision and actually do the transaction with their guidance. So, yes, it’s a partnership between us and Valley View Consulting.

Read the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Proposed Budget https://bit.ly/3DsRZvr
City of Duncanville Weekly Update: Aug. 27, 2021
Stay up-to-date on City activities and projects!

The City Manager provides a weekly update to the Duncanville Mayor and City Council of departmental activities and other significant items of interest.

In the interest of keeping the public better informed, the City is pleased to make those updates available to the citizens.

Read the weekly update https://bit.ly/3kGM7Gr
Duncanville to Launch Redesigned Website in 2022
DUNCANVILLE, TX – The City of Duncanville is proud to announce that an agreement has been signed with Intrado Interactive Services for the redesign and hosting of the Duncanville.com and DuncanvilleFieldhouse.com websites. These redesigns will be done with a user-centered focus, enhancing the ease of access to important information, municipal services, resources, schedules, and departments for residents, businesses, developers, and visitors to the City of Duncanville. The new design will be responsive, built based on how users interact with the websites as determined by data analytics, better align with Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards, and offer multiple language options.

Continue reading the release https://bit.ly/3Bt9fia
DUNCANVILLE IS HIRING
The City of Duncanville currently has full-time, part-time, intern, and seasonal positions available. Visit the City's Career Opportunities page and take your first steps toward a career right here in Duncanville!








Dallas County Health and Human Services has detected two positive West Nile Virus samples in Duncanville's 75116 zip code and conducted ground spraying as a response (see the below stories). Notices for ground spraying in Duncanville are released on Wednesdays if needed.

8/30/2021 - Mosquito Sample Tested NEGATIVE for West Nile Virus



To help combat mosquitoes in Duncanville practice the following:

  1. DRAIN standing water on your property so mosquitoes won’t breed
  2. Use insect repellant that contains DEET on your clothes
  3. Stay indoors at DUSK and DAWN when mosquitos are most prevalent
  4. DRESS in long sleeves and pants and spray repellant on your clothes.
Help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases

FREE Mosquito Dunks

For rain barrels, birdbaths, or any standing water

Available now at Duncanville City Hall - Permitting Department - During regular business hours
(limit one per household - while supplies last).
COVID-19 UPDATES
CITY HALL
203 E Wheatland Rd, Duncanville, TX 75116
Phone: 972-780-5000

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